A Potted History

Introduction

The following is a potted history of Hebron Pentecostal Church and Christian Centre.

Thanks must go to our loving and gracious King who has blessed this fellowship with many wonderful saints through the years who to this present day have kept the "Pentecostal testimony" from well over half a century in this town. The present-day motto with the church in town is:

"Rochdale Shall Be Saved"

1. The Early Days and Beginnings

Rochdale AoG (Assemblies of God) was one of the first 'Church Plants' planned by the newly formed Home Missions Council, which had been brought into being at the General Conference - largely as a result of the vision of George Oldershaw of South Normanton Evangelist George Reed was sent to 'spy out the land' in Rochdale in preparation for a pioneer crusade. So it was in 1943 he knocked on the door of 169 Drake Street, the residence of the Whittaker family.

The Whittakers - Robert and Gertrude, and their two sons: Robert and Colin - (a lifelong Methodist family) moved to Rochdale from Haslingden in the summer of 1941. They attended Champness Hall, where on Remembrance Sunday 1941, both sons yielded their hearts to Christ and where 'born again'. In May 1942 Robert was called up for National Service. However, they had close contact with Pentecostals in Haslingden through Fred and Isobel Ramsbottom who went to the Belgian Congo as missionaries in the early 1930's, with Maurice Hugo, a new convert. It was through this contact that George Reed came to ask Mr and Mrs Whittaker if they would support a Home Missions venture to plant a new Assembly of God church in Rochdale. They agreed they would.

Owing to sickness, George Reed was unable to conduct the pioneer campaign, and veteran Welsh evangelist George Every substituted for him. Mr and Mrs Every and a friend were all accommodated in the Whittaker's home during the campaign, which was held in the hall over the cafe in Butts Chambers in the centre of Rochdale. After the campaign Douglas S Quy, discharged from the RAF for health reasons, was appointed by Home Missions as the follow-up pastor. Pastor Quy was also accommodated by the Whittaker's for some two years. David and Rosemary Griffiths from Stoke on Trent succeeded him. Pastors Quy and Griffiths both nurtured and built up the little group of faithful members.

After the war Colin Whittaker, on his discharge from the RAMC in December 1947, spent his demob leave working in the Assembly. Before his call-up in June 1944 he had attended Hampstead Bible School under Howard Carter in the Autumn of 1943, and in the Spring of 1944 he worked with Home Missions in their first caravan as a trainee evangelist under George Oldershaw and Henry Shave. The caravan was parked at Huthwaite and the campaign also included Stanton Hill. His leave finished, he sought for a temporary job so that he could help build up the young church. He gained employment at Turner's Asbestos Ltd as a clerk, but within a very short time the members of the Assembly voted to invite him to take over the pastorate, which had been vacated by Pastor Griffith some months before in 1947. The Reid family had joined the Assembly during 1947, and Kenneth Reid, for whom his mother and sisters had been prayer for some years, finally re-consecrated his life to Christ, and when Colin took over, he and Kenneth became firm friends. Colin and Ken started spending half nights of praying together on Fridays.

On Wednesday 28th July 1948 the church meeting reported 57 decisions during the first six months of the year, 25 under 15 years of age and 32 over that age. 17 were baptised in water at Beulah AoG, Bury in co-operation with Pastor Arthur Blythe. The Sunday School was started during the war years by Mrs Gertrude Whittaker and at this time the records shown that there were 81 on the books, 47 girls and 34 boys, with an average attendance of between 30 and 40. Between March and July 1948 16 open-air meetings were held, five on the streets, two in Newgate and 9 on the Town Hall Square. An average of 7 people went out distributing tracts, and some 10,000 were distributed. Sunday attendances at this time were 18-24 morning and 35-50 evening. Weekdays: Monday 18-25, Wednesday 25-35, and Saturday 30-40. A campaign with Harold Miles, evangelist from Peniel Chapel, London, was held for one week in the summer of 1948. It was on the last night when Mr Miles was unable to preach because of a sore throat, that Colin had to deputise and God gave him the unspeakable joy of that night seeing Mr and Mrs Diggle and Sheila raise their hands at the appeal. Robert Whittaker had been doing a stint as a student teacher at Sheila's school before he went to Leeds Training College. He had visited the Diggle's home and invited them to the campaign. To God be the glory!

Another important happening had occurred in 1947 when the Cliff College Trekkers held a campaign at Brimrod Methodist Church with evangelist Tom Butler. During this campaign two young ladies both found Christ - Hazel Lee and Joan Fitton. After the campaign they became firm friends and supported each other in their new-found faith. Ultimately they started attending the Assembly and in due time Colin married Hazel and Kenneth married Joan. (Who says evangelism isn't worthwhile!). A building-fund was started around 1949 as it was realised that if the church was going to grow it needed its own premises.

It was a big burden for the small Assembly to support even a single young man, especially as numbers dropped due to one or two deaths of older members, people moving away from the town, and the loss of some of the new converts. Consequently, in 1949 Colin sought again for a temporary job and was employed as a wages clerk at Sharrock and Sharrock Ltd. Colin and Hazel married on 2nd September 1950 and in 1951 after Colin was invited to the pastorate of the Radcliffe Assembly, Ken and Joan took over the local pastorate in April 1951. At first it was a `stop-gap' but they filled the gap so effectively and caringly that they continued to shepherd the Assembly for many years until their retirement in 1990. It was due to their sacrificial labours that the church continued to grow. Ken was a true shepherd and Joan his faithful helpmeet. Through their labours more of the vision of those early years was fulfilled, but the full vision is still `Rochdale for Christ'.

Later days

In 1966 the church applied to the Council for building land, as the premises currently being used over Taylor's Cafe was rather small and generally unsuitable. We waited seven years for permission to build the present church and with the help of a Christian Architect, Mr Geoff Seddon, plans were drawn up and sent out for tender. The prices received were well over budget and so it was decided that with God's help we would carry out the building work ourselves. The work was commenced in faith and as work progressed, God in his mercy provided the finance. The building was opened in March 1974 and an extension was added in 1987.

Present day

In April 1990, David and Carol Corke took up the Pastorate of Hebron, having served in previous Pastorates at Hadfield and Cadishead Attendance has slowly, but steadily, grown and membership is now around 40 with over 90 (including boys and girls) attending on a good Sunday. Many decisions have been made, and lots of baptisms, both at Hebron and at Hollingworth Lake, have taken place. By grace we seek to be a people who are committed to living in the revival power of Jesus Christ.

• Following Jesus
• Believing Jesus
• Loving Jesus
• Obeying Jesus

As a body of believers we will seek to apply these principles in:

• Prayer and Worship
• Pastoral care
• Teaching and discipling
• Mission
• Community

Caring and influencing people from `the womb to the tomb'. `Alpha' deserves particular mention as a successful evangelistic tool, but many other out-reaches have taken place, including evangelism in the Town Centre and care for the poor. More recently we have hosted a Gypsy Convention every Thursday and at a recent baptism of 12 people, over 120 were in attendance. These now meet in their own church in Bolton.

Forging strong links with the `Church' in the town has been a priority. Space forbids all this involves but bi-monthly services and daily prayer times are amongst a host of vital activities that we now do together. In 1993 Cell Groups were launched in Hebron. We continue to develop this area as the way forward in the new millennium, and we expect to see the anointing of multiplication fully released in God's time.

Doors are opening for social action in the town through the Pais Project and work among the asylum seekers continues to be a blessing. The international cosmopolitan flavour of Hebron continues to increase with God's Grace and favour.

All praise must go to the King, Jesus

We would like to thank Pastor Colin Whittaker and Mrs Joan Rees for their help in compiling this history

.